Year 4

This study tested the hypothesis that high purity motor neurons (MNs) derived from human embryonic stem cells could benefit spinal cord injury. In the first AIM, we proved that MNs could extend processes to muscle and cause it’s contraction, in a dish. In the second AIM, we proved that we could enhance process extension to muscle, in a dish. In the third and fourth AIMs, we proved that MNs transplanted into the diseased or injured spinal cord could integrate and benefit the function and spinal cord tissue structure of animals. In neither case did we see projection of MN processes to muscles, despite the provision of a MN process attractant in the muscles. Nonetheless, MN transplantation reduced tissue loss that normally results from injury or disease, and enhanced regeneration of the spinal cord and functional recovery of the animals.